LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 17: Chapter 17
Chapter 17: Logan's Descent
The faint hum of fluorescent lights buzzed in Logan Steele's ears as he stood in front of the mirror in his private quarters. His reflection stared back at him: sharp jawline, piercing eyes, and a physique honed through years of relentless training. Yet, despite his outward strength, his hands clenched the edges of the sink with frustration.
Ethan Cross.
The name burned in his mind like a brand. Ethan had been a nobody—an underdog who could barely hold his own in the academy's harsh drills. Yet now, he was hailed as a rising star, gaining recognition from instructors and cadets alike. The worst part? Ethan had beaten him.
Logan's jaw tightened as he replayed the duel in his mind. Every move, every strike, every humiliating second of that narrow defeat. He had always been the best. The strongest. The one others looked up to.
But Ethan had taken that from him.
---
The academy's underground training hall was empty that night, save for Logan. The silence was oppressive, broken only by the dull thuds of his fists slamming into a reinforced punching bag. Each strike carried the weight of his anger, his need to prove himself.
"You're pushing yourself too hard."
Logan froze, his fists still raised. Slowly, he turned to see a figure emerge from the shadows—a man in his late thirties, clad in dark, tactical gear. His face was partially obscured by a hood, but his piercing gaze and confident stance spoke of authority.
"Who are you?" Logan demanded, his voice sharp.
The man smirked. "A friend. Call me Vex."
Logan narrowed his eyes. "You're not part of the academy."
"Very observant," Vex said, his tone mocking. "I represent... alternative opportunities. Ones that could benefit someone like you."
Logan stepped forward, his body tense. "What do you want?"
"It's not about what I want," Vex replied. "It's about what you want. Power. Recognition. To reclaim what's rightfully yours."
Logan's fists tightened. "I don't need your help."
"Don't you?" Vex said, raising an eyebrow. "You've seen Ethan rise through the ranks, haven't you? And you've noticed something's… off about him. His sudden strength, his abilities—it's not natural."
Logan flinched but said nothing.
"I know his secret," Vex continued, his voice low. "And I can give you the means to surpass him."
---
The room felt colder as Logan stared at Vex, his mind racing.
"How?" Logan asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Vex smiled, pulling out a small vial filled with a glowing blue liquid. "This is just the beginning. A bio-enhancement serum designed to push your body beyond its natural limits. Strength, speed, endurance—you name it."
Logan's eyes locked onto the vial. "What's the catch?"
"The academy wouldn't approve," Vex admitted, his tone casual. "But does that really matter? They've already turned a blind eye to their own experiments. This is no different—just a way to level the playing field."
Logan hesitated. Deep down, he knew this was wrong. But the memory of Ethan standing victorious over him was a wound that refused to heal.
"What happens if I refuse?" Logan asked.
Vex shrugged. "You keep falling behind. You watch as Ethan takes everything you've worked for. And you live the rest of your life knowing you could've been more."
Logan's jaw clenched. The anger, the jealousy, the need to prove himself—it all boiled over.
"Fine," he said. "What do I have to do?"
---
The process was far from painless.
Vex led Logan to a hidden facility deep within the forest, far from the academy's watchful eyes. The rogue faction's base was a labyrinth of metal corridors and makeshift labs, the air thick with the hum of machinery.
Logan was strapped to a table as a team of rogue scientists injected the serum into his veins. The pain was immediate and excruciating, his muscles seizing as the liquid coursed through his body.
"Breathe," Vex said, standing over him. "The pain means it's working."
Logan grit his teeth, refusing to scream. He wouldn't show weakness. Not now.
---
Hours later, the procedure was complete. Logan sat up slowly, his body trembling as he adjusted to the changes.
"How do you feel?" Vex asked.
Logan flexed his fingers, marveling at the strength coursing through him. His senses felt sharper, his movements faster, his body lighter yet stronger.
"Powerful," Logan said, a smirk tugging at his lips.
Vex clapped him on the shoulder. "Good. But remember, this is just the first step. The enhancements come with a cost. Push yourself too hard, and your body might not keep up. Use them wisely."
Logan nodded, though his mind was already racing with possibilities.
---
Returning to the academy, Logan felt like a predator among prey. The other cadets seemed smaller, weaker, slower. Even the instructors failed to intimidate him.
His newfound abilities were put to the test during a combat simulation. Logan moved like a blur, dismantling his opponents with ease. The instructors praised his performance, but their admiration was nothing compared to the shock on Ethan's face as he watched from the sidelines.
Logan caught Ethan's gaze, a smirk playing on his lips.
---
That night, Logan sat alone in his quarters, the rogue faction's words echoing in his mind.
"We're not your enemies, Logan. The academy is. They're using you, just like they're using Ethan. But you can be more than their pawn. You can lead."
Logan clenched his fists. He didn't trust the rogue faction, but he couldn't deny their appeal. They had given him the power he craved, the edge he needed to surpass Ethan.
But deep down, a small voice whispered doubts. Had he made a deal with the devil?
---
As the days passed, Logan's descent into the rogue faction's influence deepened. He began meeting with Vex in secret, learning more about their plans and their disdain for the academy's leadership.
"They've lied to you, Logan," Vex said one night. "The academy doesn't care about its cadets. They only care about their experiments. Ethan is proof of that. Whatever he's using—it's their doing."
Logan frowned. "And what's your plan?"
Vex smiled. "To expose the truth. And to give people like you a chance to take control."
---
Logan's loyalty to the academy began to waver, his ambition blinding him to the rogue faction's true intentions. He didn't see himself as a traitor—he saw himself as a liberator, someone destined to rise above the lies and corruption.
And if that meant confronting Ethan again, he welcomed the challenge.
"Enjoy your time at the top," Logan muttered under his breath, staring out the window at the academy grounds. "It won't last."
For Logan Steele, the path to greatness was clear. Even if it meant walking through shadows, he would do whatever it took to reclaim his place as the strongest.